Screening for Cervical Cancer and Early Treatment (SCCET) Project-The Programmatic Data of Romanian Experience in...

Background/Objectives: Cervical cancer (CC), caused mainly by high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV), remains a global health challenge despite being preventable. The disease's incidence and mortality rates significantly vary across regions, highlighting the need for effective screening programs. The World Health Organization prioritizes CC screening to monitor and eliminate the disease. The Screening for Cervical Cancer and Early Treatment (SCCET) project aligns with this goal by adhering to the 2012 National Program for Cervical Cancer Screening and implementing the European Guidelines of Quality Assurance. Methods: The SCCET initiative facilitates access to equitable and high-quality preventive medical services for Romanian women, incorporating the Babeș-Papanicolaou smear (Pap test) and/or hrHPV DNA screening. Focused on the Muntenia Region of South Romania, the project leverages a methodical approach to gather substantial medical data on hrHPV infection rates and cervical lesions, thereby improving health management for women in the screening program. Results: Through public information and educational campaigns about HPV and its link to CC, the SCCET project has significantly enhanced participation in the screening program. In the study conducted between September 2022 and March 2023, 14,385 women aged 30 to 64 years voluntarily participated; of these, 11,996 (83.4%) underwent primary hrHPV DNA screening and were tested using the PowerGene 9600 Plus Real-Time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system and the commercial Atila BioSystems AmpFire^® HPV Screening 16/18/HR test, version 4.1. This substantial participation indicates a positive shift in public attitudes towards CC prevention and highlights the success of the project's outreach efforts. The study revealed an overall prevalence of hrHPV infection of 12.24%; of these, the most common genotype was other hrHPV types (9.84%), followed by HPV 16 (2.3%) and HPV 18 (0.71%). Conclusions: The SCCET project's recent data on primary hrHPV DNA screening showcases its pivotal role in advancing the management and prevention of CC in Romania. By providing accessible, high-quality screening services and fostering public education on HPV, the initiative has made significant strides toward reducing the burden of CC. This effort aligns with global public health goals, and providing updated information on the prevalence of hrHPV types will allow the development of personalized national screening and vaccination programs to eradicate CC.